The New Lawn hosted the GFA Senior Challenge Cup Final under the lights with a dominant Rovers overturning Bishops Cleeve 6-2 to win the trophy.
First Half:
Rovers put out a strong side for this game, and from the beginning, the difference in league standings showed.
The first big chance came after five mins, with Kengni getting space down the left and putting in a tantalising cross which neither Temi or Kairo could quite reach.
Rovers continued to have the lion's share of possession, but Bishops Cleeve countered down the left on 14 mins, and only a great save from Pags kept it at 0-0.
The deadlock was broken on 17 minutes following a heavy challenge on Pemberton down the right.
Bunker took the free-kick, and it was sublime, on a plate for Doidge, whose striker's instinct ensured he was in the right place at the right time to slot it past Gilder.
Somewhat against the run of play, Bishops Cleeve equalised in the 26th minute.
A great passage of play from the visitors, including a glorious cross-field pass from Holland to Malshanskyj, who then crossed to Langworthy at the back post to nod it past Pagel and make it 1-1.
FGR reacted and stepped up the pace, and again had plenty of possession.
The reward came on 38 minutes when Tate Campbell received the ball on the edge of the box, beat one player and rifled it in the top corner past a fully stretched Gilder.
2-1 and it seemed to knock the stuffing out of the visitors a little.
With half-time in sight, the game was put beyond the opposition.
On 46 minutes, Temi made it 3-1.
A ball in from the left, Doidge chested it down to Babalola, who, with his back to goal, turned and fired it into the bottom corner.
If that wasn’t bad enough for our guests, two minutes later Kairo latched on to Kengni’s cross, turned and beautifully smashed it in the top corner.
Absolutely nothing Gilder could do about that.
4-1 at the break.
Half-Time: Forest Green Rovers 4-1 Bishops Cleeve
Second Half:
Savage made three subs at the break, bringing on three academy players.
And what an impact they made, Walsh in particular, was outstanding.
In the 57th minute, he almost scored the goal of the night but unfortunately for the young lad, the ball cannoned off the angle of bar and post.
Cian Harries got on the scoresheet on 61 minutes to make it 5-1.
Bunker, standing over a wide free-kick, laid it off to Harries, who smashed it through a sea of bodies past a stranded Gilder.
One minute later Kairo made it six with his second of the game.
Walsh caused chaos down the left, beating two players and squaring it to Mitchell who said thank you very much and curled it in the corner.
A rotten night for Gilder, but not a lot he could do about any of the goals, to be fair to him.
On 79 minutes, Bifulco almost made it seven but Gilder pulled off a smart save from the midfielder's volley.
Bishops Cleeve got another consolation goal, ten minutes before the end, when Rubio was dragged down in the area, the ref blew and promptly pointed to the spot.
Rubio brushed himself down and took the kick himself, down to Godfrey’s left.
The keeper went the right way and was just a fraction away from getting his fingers to it but it was a great penalty.
Full-Time: Forest Green Rovers 6-2 Bishops Cleeve
Forest Green: Pagel (63 Godfrey_, Kengni, Harries (63 Stiles), Doidge (46 Conteh), Bunker, Campbell (46 Walsh), Pemberton, Kircough, Nwoko (46 Bifulco), Babalola, Mitchell
Bishops Cleeve: Gilder, Jeremiah, McLean, Lee, Liddiard, Holland, Messenger (66 Watts), Kotwica, Rubio, Langworthy (62 Williams), Malshanskyj
Subs (not used): Clayton, Davies, Nelmes
Attendance: 294
